In Praise of Curiosity
We’ve all heard the proverb: “Curiosity killed the cat.” Yet I remember what my mother always added: “But satisfaction brought it back to life again!” So, which is it? Is curiosity something dangerous and should be avoided? Or is it something life-giving and should be encouraged and even nourished? What does the Bible say? The […]
What is Meant by Spirituality?
The full title of my blog is “Sunflower Seeds: Celebrating Everyday Spirituality.” Today I’d like to explore that word spirituality. In my book, Traits of a Healthy Spirituality, I say this about my use of that word. Spirituality is our essential outlook on life, the way we perceive reality. Spirituality also includes our responses to […]
Who Are the Helpers?
(Note: On my blog, I occasionally feature other peoples’ writing–such as their poems, excerpts from their books, or interviews with them. Today’s reflection is written by Sister Valerie Sweeney, SND, a good friend of mine. Her reflection grew out of a conversation we had recently.) Many of us are probably familiar with what Mr. Fred […]
The Moon Is Always Whole
Have you given any thought to the moon lately? If not, I hope today’s reflection will lead all of us to a greater appreciation of earth’s only natural satellite. (This post is adapted from my book When the Moon Slips Away.) Let’s begin with a few facts. Where did the moon come from? The truth […]
Small. Gradual. Hidden.
Today I am sharing a reflection I wrote for the March 2025 issue of Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press. First, I will give you the Gospel on which the reflection is based. Then I’ll share the reflection. ***************************************************************************** Matthew 13: 31-35 Jesus proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is […]
Dorothee Soelle: Theologian, Mystic, Social Activist
Up until a few months ago, I had never heard of Dorothee Soelle, a German theologian (1929-2003). Now I own one of her books (Essential Writings), I’m reading it enthusiastically, and I’m posting this blog about her! I thank Robert Ellsberg in the April issue of Give Us This Day for introducing her to me. […]
Join the “Revolution of Tenderness”
Sometimes I come across a phrase that stops me in my tracks. It’s a phrase I find startling, intriguing, seemingly contradictory, but definitely worth pondering. One such phrase came from Pope Francis when, in 2017, he made a surprise appearance at a TED conference and called for a “revolution of tenderness.” He cited Jesus’ parable […]
Prayer for the United States of America
This year we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America–for many of us, our cherished country. But anniversaries are not merely a time for nostalgia and celebration. As Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore wrote: an anniversary “calls us to consider not only who we have been, but who we are becoming…and […]
Quotes on Rest, Leisure & Play
It’s summer time here in the northern hemisphere. And when we think “summer,” we usually think vacation or enjoying more lesisure time–especially outdoors. Consequently, I thought it would be fitting to give you 20 quotations on rest, leisure and play from a variety of individuals. I invite you to reflect on these “leisurely.” 1) The […]
The Peregrine Falcon Live Camera
(Please note: I am typing this Monday evening. This blog was posted Monday morning as usual, but for some unknown reason, it wasn’t sent out to our subscribers. Our IT department is looking into this glitch. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.) For the past two years, I have been been watching the Peregrine Falcon live-cam […]